BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
February 1, 2007

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 1st at 7:00 pm at Chase School, 2021 N. Point.


Officers Present: SGT Giambrone (3rd Watch), PO Crawford (Days), PO Zuniga (Midnights), PO Strazzante (3rd Watch), PO Augustyn 14th District CAPS office, Liz Rios CAPS organizer.

Number of Beat 1431 residents present: 7

General Announcements
Thefts from automobiles continue to be a major problem in our Beat along Milwaukee avenue, particularly during Congress Theater events. SGT Giambrone mentioned that the police will be increasing their attention on these thefts which he believes is allowing Bingham criminals to make a living.

There is also currently a rash of criminal activity across Beats in the 14th District where car windows are being smashed along an entire block during the early morning hours. During the last incident a black car with a temporary license plate was involved. No arrests have been made and police are currently trying to catch these criminals. The police are encouraging residents to keep an eye out for this activity and to call 911 immediately with descriptions of the criminals including their car and license plate number. The police claim there are at least two offenders involved.

Theft from Auto Prevention
The following is excerpted from the Chicago Police Department auto theft prevention program:
- Always lock your vehicle and take your keys
- Never leave a spare set of keys in the vehicle such as in a magnetic box, above the visor or under the hood. Thieves ALWAYS check these areas.
- Always park in a well-lit area.
- When parking your vehicle, always make sure the windows are tightly closed.
- Keep all valuables and packages out of site, e.g.: MP3 players, CD players, cellular phones, briefcases, computers, spare change, and clothing.
- Anything of value left in your car attracts thieves. "Remember, the thief will break your $100 car window, to steal your $10 glasses".
- Report any suspicious persons to 911.

Citizen ICAM
From January 1st through January 29th, according to the Citizen ICAM, Beat 1431 suffered 41 crimes, a decrease of 20 from last month (61):
- 4 Person
- 31 Property
- 0 Society
- 3 Domestic (assault and battery)
- 0 Domestic (property)
- 3 Undetermined

Gang Intervention Probation Program
PO Deb Augustyn announced the Gang Intervention Probation Program which notifies the community when a gang member has been charged with a criminal offense in Illinois and has been placed on mandatory probation back into the community. Jesus Ocampo (click here for photo) is currently living on the 2100 block of N. Bingham with mandatory curfew hours from 9pm - 7am during the period from 12/15/2005 - 12/14/2007. Any resident who sees this individual violating curfew or seen with a known gang member, should call 911.

Trouble Buildings Community Forum
There will be a Trouble Buildings Community Forum on March 8th from 5:30pm - 7pm at Area 5 Police Headquarters Auditorium, 5555 W. Grande (Grand & Central). This is your opportunity to speak with Chicago city officials about troubled buildings with criminal activity in your neighborhood. Speakers will represent the following departments: Dept. of Law, Dept. of Buildings, Dept. of Housing, CAPS, Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Police Department.

Imposters Posing as Detectives and Service Workers Targeting Seniors
The following is excerpted from a Chicago Police Department notice on recent imposter activity targeting senior citizens:
Chicago police are warning senior citizens to be wary of persons coming to their homes claiming to be Chicago Police detectives, city employees, or other service workers in the wake of several incidents that have occurred throughout the city in recent weeks.
The offenders targeting senior citizens use a variety of false impersonations to gain entry into the senior's residents where they commit thefts or confidence games.
The individuals claim to be Chicago Police detectives, city water department employees, cable company workers, gas or electric company servicemen and Chicago Fire Department employees.
In several cases the victims have been physically attacked when they questioned the actions of the offenders who entered their homes.
The confidence games have included a person claiming to be a Chicago Police detective who asks the victims to withdraw money from their bank accounts.

There are several precautions that all citizens should take before allowing someone into their home:
- If you are visited by plain clothes detectives you can ask to see their ID cards or call 911 and request a marked police vehicle to respond to verify that the individuals are CPD detectives.
- Be aware that police officers, detectives, FBI agents and bank investigators never ask citizens to withdraw money from their bank.
- Ask all city workers to show you their ID card before opening your door. City of Chicago employees are required to carry their city ID cars and show them when asked. This includes firefighters and police officers not in uniform.
- If you did not call for the service do not let anyone into your home. If they insist on coming into your home, call 911.
- Always ask to see photo identification and company ID cards before opening the door, even if you are expecting a service call.
- Always call 911 immediately to report suspicious people or activity in your neighborhood

Winter Services
The Chicago Police Department Senior Citizen Services Section (312-745-5141) published a Winter Services and Safety notice:
Landlords are required to provide adequate heat during the cold months, from September 15th of each year to June 1st of the succeeding year, a minimum temperature of 66 degrees overnight and 68 degrees during the day. The City of Chicago sends inspectors out to investigate all calls of inadequate heat. Warming Centers are available to anyone in immediate danger.

Every Chicagoan should check on relatives and neighbors during extreme cold weather to ensure their safety, particularly the elderly, or those who have a serious medical condition. Anyone at risk can register with the City of Chicago at 311 for a well being call during extreme weather.

Winter Safety:
- Wear layers of warm, dry clothing, hat and gloves.
- In case of frostbite, do not rub affected area; warm gradually; seek medical attention if skin turns blue-purple.
- Know the warning signs of hypothermia: stiff muscles, puffy face, slowed breathing, and mental confusion. If these signs are recognized, call 911.
- Prescription drugs may increase vulnerability to cold; check with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Never use an oven as a heating device. Do not use an extension cord with a space heater.
- Make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.
- Individuals 60 and older should obtain a yearly flu shot.
In a medical emergency, call 911.
For all other services, call the City of Chicago's 24 hour hotline at 311.


Beat 1431 Section Reports
SECTION 1 (Borders: California, Milwaukee, Armitage)
1) The building at 2061 Bingham is now vacant.
2) 2062 Bingham has reportedly installed a video camera in the front of the property to help discourage the loitering of gang and drug vagrants. This property has had drug activity over the last month.
3) 2065 Bingham was badly tagged with gang graffiti across the front of the entire building. The city was able to remove it within two days. The house is currently in foreclosure.
4) A narcotics police team reportedly made a call at 2113 Bingham. The owner of the building is Angel Cardenas and can be reached at 708-612-2876.
A dumpster is also located near the front of the property attracting large amounts of garbage in and around the container.
5) At 2118 Bingham, New Year's Day (early morning) there was a gang disturbance between the Latin Lovers and Cobras. Latin Lover gang members Francisco Espinoza, Carmello Munoz, Juan Hernandez (Loony), were arrested for reckless conduct.
6) Approximately 7am in the morning of January 15th, the Payless ShoeSource store located at 2082 N. Milwaukee Ave caught fire. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire within two hours. The cause of the fire may still be under investigation and is currently listed as a non-criminal incident.
7) PO Colin Macniff arrested an offender on the 2000 block of Stave, who had a .32 caliber gun.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 for any emergency or crime in this section. The more calls to 911 the more attention this area will receive.

SECTION 2 & 3 (Borders: Rockwell, Lyndale, Western, Milwaukee)
1) January 14th, a robbery occurred on the 2200 block of N. Maplewood. Four males were seen getting out of a white Chevy Malibu, robbed the victims at gunpoint, returned to their car and fled the scene. Police SGT Giambrone witnessed the scene and ensued chase. Two of the criminals jumped out of the fleeing car, and the SGT was able to grab one of the criminals, a gang/tactical unit also responding to the call caught the remaining criminals in the fleeing car. One of the arrested criminals was the same criminal that was arrested for criminal defacement at the property of California and Altgeld reported in last month's meeting. He was caught with a gun violating his parole for a crime he committed in 2005.
The court date for these arrested criminals is on February 9th. For more information on this court date please contact Deb Augustyn at the CAPS Office 312-744-8290.
2) 2400 block of Lyndale, a Simonov SKS rifle (predecessor to the Kalashnikov AK-47 which uses 7.62 mm cartridges which can pierce police vests) was confiscated.
3) A man residing on the 2500 block of Lyndale was seen exposing himself in public at passing children. Police were called to the scene but he refused to open his door. The police will be making another visit to talk to this individual.
4) Tini Martini continues to be a problem bar/night club in Section 2. Patrons have been leaving the club between 2 - 2:30am being extremely loud and disrespectful of the neighborhood. PO Zuniga reported a recent incident at the club where a young woman was apparently drugged at the nightclub and was taken to the hospital. The intoxicating substance was believed to be a "date rape" drug.
action: The Tini Martini owners are being asked to attend the next CAPS meeting to account for the role they have been playing in the neighborhood.

SECTION 4 (Borders: California, Fullerton, Rockwell, Milwaukee)
1) MLD AW (Altgeld Washtenaw chapter) gang graffiti covers a large section of the rear of Dunkin Donut's (2247 N Milwaukee Ave) on Lyndale Avenue. MLD gang members have also been reportedly seen driving through this section of Lyndale displaying gang signs to pedestrians between Talman and Washtenaw during afternoons.
2) There has also been gang loitering seen at Belden and Washtenaw.
action: Gangs continue to make their presence known. Residents are urged to call 911 when witnessing any gang activity.

SECTION 5 (Borders: California, Logan Boulevard, Rockwell, Fullerton)
1) A resident reported stickers being displayed around Haas Park advertising "Team Bang Gang" and was wondering if they are affiliated with any criminal gang activity. Police officers present had not seen the stickers before. They did not feel that they were gang related.
2) A resident from the NE corner building of Altgeld and Washtenaw reported that the building has been getting tagged with gang graffiti so frequently that they are simply painting over the graffiti instead of calling 311 and having Graffiti Blasters take it off. The pressurized spray from Graffiti Blasters is apparently starting to harm the brick.
action: Residents should continue to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.

SECTION 6 (Borders: Rockwell, Logan Boulevard, Western, Fullerton)
1) Gun shots were reported following the Bears NFC Conference victory, Sunday, January 21st. SGT Giambrone did not have any reports of anyone shot that evening.
2) Graffiti has decreased over the last month.
action: Residents should continue to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.


Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) 2000 and 2100 blocks of Bingham, particularly 2113 Bingham
2) Gang graffiti
3) Gang loitering and recruiting
5) Gang violence

DISCLAIMER
Beat 1431 CAPS volunteers prepared these meeting minutes to the best of their ability.